The U-Boat campaign nearly brought Britain to its knees in 1917 but it is not well known that British submarine operations made a significant contribution to final victory. The ‘Silent Service’ lived up to its sobriquet and little was written then or since about stirring stories, some worthy of Boys Own Paper, that liven the reality of many routine patrols in harsh conditions. Successes came at a cost, with the loss of life proportionately greater than on the Western Front.

Rear Admiral Paul Hoddinott CB, OBE Paul Hoddinott’s appointments in a 34-year career in the Royal Navy included three sea commands: a diesel submarine HMS ANDREW, the Polaris submarine HMS REVENGE, and the guided missile destroyer HMS GLASGOW in which he saw action in the Falklands War. Thereafter he served in the Ministry of Defence, represented the UK as Deputy Military Representative to NATO in Brussels, returned to naval operations as Chief of Staff Submarines in the final years of the Cold War; and completed his naval service as Naval Attaché and Commander British Naval Staff in Washington DC.